Manchester Attack Support Newsletter, Issue 2, March 2018

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Manchester Attack Support Newsletter March 2018

This newsletter is a new
way of providing advice
and information to
support anyone affected
by the Manchester Arena
attack on 22 May 2017.

The attack killed 22 people
and injured many more, and
work is still going on across
the country to provide care,
treatment and support for
all those affected.

In this newsletter you will
find updates about the
Kerslake Review and the
plans to create a permanent
memorial. You’ll also find
updates from the various
partners and organisations
that are supporting people
through the tragedy.

We would love to hear
your thoughts on the
newsletter, including
your ideas for content.

If you need help, we’re here for you

www.manchesterattacksupport.org.uk was launched in
December to support people affected by the attack. The
website brings together a wealth of information and advice
from all the partners and organisations working to support
people affected by the tragedy.

If you were affected and need help, we’re here for you. A wealth
of support is available. All you have to do is ask.

If you know someone who would benefit from help or support, or
who would like to be kept updated on plans and developments
related to 22 May, please tell them about the website and
encourage them to sign up to receive the newsletter.

Plans for the anniversary

You may have seen that there are plans to commemorate the
first anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. Manchester
City Council has been leading on the development of the
proposals and has created a programme of events.

The first anniversary of the attack will be an intensely emotional
time for many people. In putting together this programme, we’ve
worked closely with bereaved families to make sure our plans
reflect their wishes as much as possible.

In this spirit, outline plans are based around two themes: Remembrance;
and Reflection and Celebration of Life - recognising each of the 22 people
who lost their lives in the attack, those who were injured, first responders,
and Manchester Together, embracing the solidarity shown by the city.

You can find out more on the website https://manchesterattacksupport.org.
uk/22-mav-commemoration/

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Brought to you by Manchester City Council,
the Manchester Resilience Hub and partners

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

The Kerslake Review

The Kerslake Review is looking at how the city responded to the attack on 22 May and
how people who were at the Arena were helped and supported on the night and in the
days following the attack.

To ensure that as many lessons are learnt about the response as possible, more than 170 people
have participated in the review. Bereaved families, the seriously injured and many who were there
on the night have shared their experiences.

The panel has also spoken to members of all the emergency services and other agencies involved
in the incident and its aftermath.

The team working on the Review have provided an update on their progress so far, which you can
find online . The final report will be published in March 2018 and will cover the findings of the panel
and its recommendations.

Plans for a permanent memorial

The Manchester Memorials Advisory Group is a group of civic and business leaders
that was established to advise Manchester City Council on the development of a lasting,
permanent memorial to honour those directly affected by the attack. It is also intended
that the memorial will be a focal point for reflection.

The group is chaired by Malcolm Press, the vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University.
The members of the group are overseeing a consultation process to help shape those plans.

The views of families and survivors are at the heart of this process, and so they are being consulted
first for their views. Their feedback will help shape a wider consultation process around the
meaning, purpose, feel and potential location of the memorial.

This will eventually inform a creative brief, so that the right people can help come up with ideas
to achieve this vision. Getting this right will take time - it’s important not to rush it.

If you would like to participate in the consultation process and contribute your views, you can:
just register your details here and we will keep you informed.

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Brought to you by Manchester City Council,
the Manchester Resilience Hub and partners

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

What happened to the tributes
left in St Ann’s Square?

You may have visited St Ann’s Square after the attack. It became a focal point for the city and
its people to express their grief and solidarity with bereaved families and those affected by
the attack. In mid-June, Manchester City Council and its partners arranged to carefully and
respectfully remove, preserve and document as many of the tributes as possible, as well
as those left at Manchester Arena and Victoria Station.

The tributes are now being carefully curated into an archive, which will document the tributes for years
to come. It will eventually be open to the public and those affected so they can view and reflect.

The archive will contain all tribute material, with the exception of the composted or replanted floral
tributes, distributed soft toys, generic candles and balloons. All tributes have been retained and will
be treated equally, from scribbled notes on scraps of paper, to paintings and poems. Everything has
an important role in constructing personal and collective memories of the event, as well as reflecting
and interpreting the public response.

There are a number of tributes that won’t be there. For example, almost 300,000 bouquets of flowers
were left at St Ann’s Square. Most of those tributes were taken to Wythenshawe Park, where the
wrapping was removed by In Bloom volunteers. The messages attached were saved and taken to
the archive at Manchester Art Gallery.

You may have also seen a story in the media before Christmas about the soft toys that were
given new homes. In total, more than 1,900 soft toys were donated. Initially, they were dried out by
Timpsons and then washed by members of the Women’s Institute (Wl) from branches across Greater
Manchester. The University of Manchester filmed and interviewed Wl volunteers and took individual
photographs of the teddy bears.

We will update you on the progress of the archive via the website.

www.manchesterattacksupport.org.uk

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Brought to you by Manchester City Council,
the Manchester Resilience Hub and partners

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Getting help and support

Many people continue to be affected following the attack
and may need extra support, and some people who didn’t
want help initially, now find themselves struggling or in
need of support.

A number of organisations are providing help for anyone
affected by the attack. Details are available by visiting:

https://manchesterattacksupport.orq.uk/get-support/

You can find advice on coping after a traumatic event and
information about the help available through the Manchester
Resilience Hub . You can also email them at gm.help@nhs.net
or phone them on 03330 095 071.

For emotional support any time of the day or night you can
contact Samaritans. Their number is free and they provide
listening support on the phone or by email. You can contact
them by phone on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Young people aged 13-25, and their families, can get specialist
help and advice from 42nd Street . Get in touch if you need
advice or support.

If you, or someone you love, are struggling, ask for help.

A survivor’s view

Samantha, a survivor
from the Bataclan attack
in Paris in 2015, found it
helpful to write a letter
describing what it feels
like to be a survivor and
her hopes for the future.

You can hear more from
her in a short video

produced by the BBC

where she talks movingly
about her thoughts and
feelings, the impact of the
attack, and the knowledge
that it will take some time
before she can enjoy the
things she used to.

The specialist support

available for people like
Samantha can help many
other people in a similar
situation cope with the
effects of being a survivor.

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Brought to you by Manchester City Council,
the Manchester Resilience Hub and partners

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Contributing
to the next
newsletter

Like Samantha, some
people find it helpful
to write about their
experiences and feelings.
If you are interested in
having something you
have written or created
featured in the newsletter,
or have some information
you think others may
benefit from, please get
in touch and well work
with you on developing
some content.

Young people’s meeting

Manchester Resilience Hub Family Days

A number of families affected by the arena attack thought it
would be beneficial for children and young people to meet each
other and share their thoughts and feelings about how the
attack had affected their lives.

Greater Manchester Police worked with the Manchester Resil¬
ience Hub to make arrangements and organised a day for
people to get together on 27 January. Separate sessions were
held for children and young people, and parents and carers,
with activities such as making messages of hope.

The feedback from the day was excellent: 98% of children and
young people who attended said they would recommend the
event to others involved in the attack. Manchester Resilience
Hub, working with a number of partners, are hoping to organise
more events over the coming months.

We are also encouraging
people to sign up for the
newsletter by registering
their contact details with
us. You can do this at
www.manchesterattack

support.orq.uk

Please pass on details of
the website and newsletter
to anyone who you feel
might benefit from
knowing about them.

If your family was affected by the arena attack and you’d be
interested in attending future family days, you can contact the
Hub on 0333 009 5071 or email GM.help@nhs.net If you’re not
already registered with the Hub, you can register online at

www.penninecare.nhs.ik/wellbeinqscreen

Media requests

In the run-up to the 22 May anniversary, the media may want to get in touch
with you to hear what happened to you on the night. For some people, this
can be a very therapeutic experience and can allow you to tell your story.
However, it is not for everyone, as some people may find it distressing. If you
are interested in receiving media requests, please let us know by emailing
anne.evre@traumatraininq.com and we will get in touch.

Supporting those
affected by the
Manchester attack

Brought to you by Manchester City Council,
the Manchester Resilience Hub and partners